Filmmaker Statement

Hi, my name is Jinwoo (Joe) Park, and I am the writer and director of Hold My Hand. Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by magic and supernatural powers. Imagination has always felt like something magical and exciting to me. To grow my imagination, I spent a lot of time watching, writing, and experiencing new things. These experiences inspired me to create Hold My Hand, my very first short film. This film tells the story of Hazel, a girl with special powers who is often used by the people around her. Through Hazel’s journey, I wanted to show how many people in the real world face similar struggles. My hope is that this film gives them a little bit of comfort and reminds them that they are truly special. Making this film was not easy. We faced many challenges, including bad weather, but my amazing crew and I worked together to overcome them. One of the most exciting moments for me was filming Hazel’s powers—it felt like my imagination had come to life right in front of me.